A host of Major League Baseball award winners all have something in common this year: they have Little League® roots. Several former Little Leaguers are among the postseason honorees, as the Rookies of the Year, both Comeback Players of the Year, a Manager of the Year, and a Cy Young winner were all given postseason accolades.
Here’s a rundown of the former Little Leaguers honored by MLB:
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Astros shortstop Carlos Correa earned top American League rookie honors after hitting 22 homers and 22 doubles while stealing 14 bases and playing fantastic defense across 99 games.
Kris Bryant (Peccole LL) became the sixth Cubs player to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award and the first in franchise history to claim the honor unanimously.
CY YOUNG AWARD
Jake Arrieta (Plano Baseball Association) of the Chicago Cubs withstood the challenge of fellow Little Leaguer Zack Greinke (Conway LL) to capture his first National League Cy Young Award. With an MLB-leading 22 wins, Arrieta, who threw a no-hitter against the Dodgers, is the first Cubs Cy Young Award winner since LL graduate Greg Maddux in 1992.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Joe Maddon (West Hazleton LL) won the BBWAA National League Manager of the Year Award in his first year at the helm for the Cubs.
GOLD GLOVES
SS: Brandon Crawford, Giants (Pleasonton LL)
P: Zack Greinke, Dodgers (Conway LL)
SILVER SLUGGER
C: Brian McCann, Yankees (Huntingon LL #6)
SS: Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox (Aruba South LL)
C: Buster Posey, Giants
SS: Brandon Crawford, Giants (Pleasonton LL)
OF: Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies (Maracaibo LL)
RELIEVERS OF THE YEAR
Leading MLB with 51 saves in 53 chances, Mark Melancon anchored a Pirates bullpen that posted baseball’s lowest ERA (2.64).
COMEBACK PLAYER AWARDS
Limited by a herniated disc in 2014, Prince Fielder stormed back to hit .305 with 23 HRs, 98 RBIs for American League West-champion Texas.
After missing 2014 with Tommy John surgery, Matt Harvey (Mystic LL) was 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA in 189.1 innings, helping the Mets to the World Series.
PLAYERS CHOICE AWARDS
Outstanding Rookie: Carlos Correa, Astros; Kris Bryant, Cubs
Comeback Player: Prince Fielder, Rangers
Outstanding Pitcher: Zack Greinke, Dodgers; Matt Harvey, Mets
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
The Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards winners are determined using a formula that combines traditional defensive stats with advanced metrics, as well as the data logged by the baseball experts working for the scouting service Inside Edge.
C: Buster Posey, Giants
SS: Andrelton Simmons, Braves
Best Overall Defensive Player: Simmons